Washing machine

ABSTRACT

A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a panel frame, a control panel, and a deco. The control panel is disposed on a front surface of the panel frame, and the deco is attached to a circumference of the control panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a washing machine.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a drum type washing method performs a washing cycle using frictional force between the laundry and a drum rotating by receiving driving force from a motor with detergent, washing water, and the laundry inserted into the drum. The drum type washing method has some advantages that can prevent the laundry from being tangled, so that fabrics of the laundry are not damaged. Also, the drum type washing method has an effect of beating and rubbing the laundry.

An installation structure of a control panel assembly of a related art drum type washing machine will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an outer appearance of a general drum type washing machine. The control panel assembly 50 is formed on a front upper portion of a cabinet 1 forming an outer appearance body. The control panel assembly 50 includes a plurality of buttons 21 for a user to input functions to control a washing cycle and a display screen 22 for displaying a remaining time.

A tub (not shown) capable of storing washing water is installed inside the cabinet 1 and the tub accommodates a drum (not shown) receiving the laundry.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a related art control panel assembly.

Referring to FIG. 2, a related art control panel assembly 50 includes the control panel 51, an upper deco 53 that surrounds an outer circumference of the control panel 51, and a panel frame 55 attached on a rear surface of the control panel 51.

A plurality of electronic components (not shown) are mounted within the control panel 51. An operating knob 24 is installed on a front surface of the control panel 51 to connect to the electronic components and to allow a user to directly adjust operation of the drum type washing machine.

Hereinafter, a coupling structure of the control panel assembly according to the related art will be described.

Referring to FIG. 3, the panel frame 55 is coupled to the upper deco 53 and the control panel 51 is coupled to the panel frame 55 coupled to the upper deco 53.

Referring to FIG. 4, a lower portion of the control panel 51 is fixed to a lower portion of the panel frame 55, and an upper portion of the control panel 51 is rotated and fixed to an upper portion of the panel frame 55 such that a circumference of the control panel 51 is surrounded by the upper deco 53.

Referring to FIG. 5, to fix the upper portion of the control panel 51 to the upper portion of the panel frame 55 by rotating the upper portion of the control panel 51, it is preferable that a predetermined gap G is formed between a top lower surface portion of the upper deco 53 and an upper surface portion of the control panel 51 for rotation of the control panel 51.

Assembling of the control panel assembly is completed through this above process.

However, the assembled structure of the control panel assembly has problems below.

That is, washing water penetrates through the gap G formed between the upper surface portion of the control panel 51 and the top lower surface portion of the upper deco 53. Therefore, the penetrating washing water flows into electronic components (not shown) mounted within the control panel 51 to damage the electronic components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a washing machine that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that prevents in advance washing water from penetrating into electronic components mounted within the control panel through a gap formed between a control panel and an upper deco by modifying the coupling structure of a control panel assembly.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a washing machine including: a panel frame; a control panel disposed on a front surface of the panel frame; and a deco attached to a circumference of the control panel.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine including: a panel frame; a control panel coupled to a front surface of the panel frame; and a deco coupled to the control panel such that the deco is closely attached to a circumference of the control panel.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine including: a panel frame; a control panel disposed on a front surface of the panel frame; a deco closely attached to a circumference of the control panel; a first coupling protrusion and a first coupling hole formed on the control panel and the deco, respectively, and coupled to each other, for fixing the control panel to the deco; and a second coupling protrusion and a second coupling hole formed on the control panel and the panel frame, respectively, and coupled to each other, for fixing the control panel to the panel frame.

According to the present invention, the gap formed between the control panel and the upper deco can be minimized by modifying the assembly structure of the control panel assembly to prevent the washing water from penetrating into the control panel, thereby protecting the electronic components built in the control panel from the washing water.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an outer appearance structure of a general drum type washing machine;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a related art control assembly;

FIGS. 3 to 4 are perspective views explaining an assembly process of a related art control panel assembly;

FIG. 5 is an perspective view of an assembled state of a related art control panel assembly;

FIG. 6 is an perspective view of an assembled state of a control panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a control panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 8 to 9 are perspective views explaining an assembly process of a control panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an assembled state of a control panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a control panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 8 to 9 are perspective views explaining an assembly process of a control panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, a drum type washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a control panel 110, an upper deco 130, a panel frame 150, a first coupling unit, and a second coupling unit.

A knob and a variety of electronic components are installed in the control panel 110, and the upper deco 130 is installed to closely attach and surround both sides and an upper surface of the control panel 110. The panel frame 150 is coupled to a rear surface of the control panel 110 on which the upper deco 130 is installed. The first coupling unit couples the control panel 110 to the upper deco 130 and the second coupling unit couples the control panel 110 to the panel frame 150.

Referring to FIG. 7, the first coupling unit has a plurality of first fixing holes 210 and a plurality of first fixing protrusions 230. The first fixing hole 210 is formed in the control panel 110. The first fixing protrusion 230 is formed on the upper deco 130 to correspond to each of the first fixing holes 210 and coupled to each of the first fixing holes 210.

The second coupling unit has a plurality of hooks 310, a plurality of hook holes 350, a plurality of the second fixing protrusions 330, and a plurality of the second fixing holes 370.

The hook 310 is formed on a lower end portion of the control panel 110 and the hook hole 350 is formed in a lower end portion of the panel frame 150 to correspond to each of hooks 310 and couple to the each of hooks 310. The second fixing protrusion 330 is formed on a rear surface of the control panel 110 and the second fixing hole 370 is formed in the panel frame 150 to correspond to each of the second fixing protrusion 330 and couples to each of the second fixing protrusions 330.

Although a height H1 of the control panel 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention is lower than a height H2 of the upper deco 130, it is preferable that a top surface of an upper side portion of the control panel 110 has a height capable of being attached to a bottom surface of a lower side portion of the upper deco 130 after coupling to each other.

This is to minimize a gap formed during a process of assembling the control panel 110 and the upper deco 130.

In an assembly structure of the control panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the panel frame 150 is coupled to the control panel 110 coupled to the upper deco 130 after coupling the upper deco 130 to the control panel 110 so as to minimize the gap (that is a related art problem) formed between the control panel 110 and the upper deco 130.

Hereinafter, an assembling process of the control panel assembly and its resulting effect will be described.

Referring to FIG. 7, the control panel 110 is coupled to the upper deco 130.

The first fixing protrusion 230 formed on the upper deco 130 is inserted into the first fixing hole 210 formed in the control panel 110 to couple to each other.

Referring to FIG. 8, the panel frame 150 is coupled to the control panel 110 on which the upper deco 130 is installed.

The hook 310 formed on a lower side portion of the control panel 110 is inserted into the hook hole 350 formed in a lower side portion of the panel frame 150.

The second fixing protrusion 330 formed on a rear surface of the control panel 110 is inserted into the second fixing hole 370 formed in the panel frame 150 to couple to each other.

Assembling of components of the control panel assembly is completed through this process.

The height HI of the control panel 110 is lower than the height H2 of the upper deco 130. Also, the top surface of the upper side portion of the control panel 110 has the height capable of being attached to the bottom surface of the lower side portion of the upper deco 130. The gap formed between the control panel 110 and the upper deco 130 according to the related art can be minimized by assembling the control panel 110 and the upper deco 130 before the panel frame 150.

Therefore, the present invention can prevent electronic components from being damaged by penetration of washing water through the gap between the control panel 110 and the upper deco 130.

According to the present invention, the gap formed between the control panel and the upper deco can be minimized by modifying the assembly structure of the control panel assembly to prevent the washing water from penetrating into an inside of the control panel, thereby protecting the electronic components mounted within the control panel from the washing water.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A washing machine comprising: a panel frame; a control panel disposed on a front surface of the panel frame; and a deco attached to a circumference of the control panel.
 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the control panel is coupled to the panel frame.
 3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein a coupling protrusion and a hole for coupling to the coupling protrusion are formed on the control panel and the panel frame, respectively.
 4. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the deco is coupled to the control panel.
 5. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein a coupling protrusion and a hole for coupling to the coupling protrusion are formed on the deco and the control panel, respectively.
 6. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the deco covers an upper end surface and both lateral sides of the control panel.
 7. A washing machine comprising: a panel frame; a control panel coupled to a front surface of the panel frame; and a deco coupled to the control panel such that the deco is closely attached to a circumference of the control panel.
 8. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein a coupling protrusion and a hole for coupling to the coupling protrusion are formed on the panel frame and the control panel, respectively.
 9. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the coupling protrusion and the hole are formed in a back-and-forth direction of the panel frame and the control panel, respectively.
 10. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein a coupling protrusion and a hole for coupling to the coupling protrusion are formed on the control panel and the deco, respectively.
 11. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the coupling protrusion and the hole are formed in a back-and-forth direction of the control panel and the deco.
 12. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein a hook is formed on a lower end portion of the control panel, and a hole for receiving the hook is formed in the panel frame.
 13. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein the deco covers a portion formed along the circumference of the control panel and exposed to an outside.
 14. A washing machine comprising: a panel frame; a control panel disposed on a front surface of the panel frame; a deco closely attached to a circumference of the control panel; a first coupling protrusion and a first coupling hole formed on the control panel and the deco, respectively, and coupled to each other, for fixing the control panel to the deco; and a second coupling protrusion and a second coupling hole formed on the control panel and the panel frame, respectively, and coupled to each other, for fixing the control panel to the panel frame.
 15. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the first coupling protrusion and the first coupling hole are formed on the deco and in the control panel, respectively.
 16. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the first coupling protrusion and the first coupling hole are formed in a back-and-forth direction of the control panel and the deco.
 17. The washing machine according to claim 16, wherein the first coupling protrusion protrudes to a front side of the deco and couples to the first coupling hole at a rear surface of the control panel.
 18. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the second coupling protrusion and the second coupling hole are formed on the control panel and in the panel frame, respectively.
 19. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the second coupling protrusion and the second coupling hole are formed in a back-and-forth direction of the control panel and the panel frame.
 20. The washing machine according to claim 19, wherein the second coupling protrusion protrudes to a rear side of the control panel, and couples to the second coupling hole at a front surface of the panel frame.
 21. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein a hook is formed on a lower end portion of the control panel, and a hole into which the hook is inserted is formed on the panel frame. 